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Bouncing Betty infestation...help! #749878

Asked May 14, 2021, 10:01 AM EDT

My front yard in Colorado Springs has a lot of Bouncing Betty. Last year I dug it up and tried to get all of the roots out. To no avail, I am afraid as it is spreading and doing very well this spring! I have read that it cannot not be eradicated mechanically, but managed. I have been in my home for six years and have never used herbicides, but this and another invasive that looks like the forget-me-not of the borage family are trying my patience and challenging my preferred landscape plants. Recommendations?

El Paso County Colorado

Expert Response

Hello

Bouncing bet can definitely be a problem due to its aggressive spreading nature.  Continued pulling/digging may eventually eradicate it, but you will definitely acheive faster results with an herbicide.  

Glyphosate is the most commonly recommended herbicide that is also easy for homeowners to get. Spray it on while it is in active growth (now). Make to to use cardboard as a spray guard to avoid spraying desirable plants, as glyphosate is non-selective and can affect anything.  The sheets below give some other herbicide possibilities if you are able to get more specialized herbicides.

https://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/natural%20areas/wr_S/Saponaria.pdf

https://www.jeffco.us/DocumentCenter/View/1183/Information-Sheet-on-Bouncingbet-PDF?bidId=

Without a photo of the weed in the boraginaceae, I am unable to give a proper ID or advice on that one.


An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 14, 2021, 1:07 PM EDT

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